Vacuum-system cleaning circulation device

ABSTRACT

Equipment is disclosed that conveniently provides effective cleaning of envelope-folding, paper-converting or similar machinery containing perforated cylinders having a hollow interior and communicating with a vacuum system, for the manipulation or conveyance of one or more pieces of substantially imperforate sheet-like materials held against the exterior of the cylinders by ordinary atmospheric pressure. Equipment is provided comprising a reservoir chamber, pump means for forcing liquid from the chamber to a manifold, individual means communicating with the manifold for conveying liquid to the interior of the cylinders, and means connected with the vacuum system associated with the cylinders in the vicinity of the main pump, for returning liquid to the reservoir chamber, which is preferably evacuated. This yields effective cleaning of dirt, dust and lint not only from the perforations but also from valve faces, elbows, and other constrictions in the vacuum system.

United States Patent Seipel et a1.

[ June 27, 1972 [541 VACUUM-SYSTEM CLEANING 2,201,774 5/1940 Hofele ..l34/168 R x CIRCULATION DEVICE 2,4;1341; 8/1347 Vawter ..134/1 1 1 X 3, 5, 3 11/ 64 Bennett ..248 206 R X [72] Inventors: Hans J. Selpel, 381 Matthews Road,

Boardman, Ohio 44512; Walter F. Gan- Prim), Emmmer Rben L Bleutge 223 gbil kigg f gznsa' g i zs ag d Attorney-Brown, Murray, Flick & Peckham S a i I a Boulevard, Canfield, [22] Filed: 1971 Equipment is disclosed that conveniently provides effective [2 I] APPL 2 99 cleaning of envelope-folding, paper-converting or similar machinery containing perforated cylinders having a hollow in- Related U.S. Application Data terior and communicating with a vacuum system, for the manipulation or conveyance of one or more pieces of substan- [63] fggg g z g of 832318 June 'tiallyimperforate sheet-like materials held against the exterior a an one of the cylinders by ordinary atmospheric pressure. Equipment is provided comprising a reservoir chamber, pump means for forcing liquid from the chamber to a manifold, individual E 58] 3 l l 1 R 168 means communicating with the manifold for conveying liquid 4/255 to the interior of the cylinders, and means connected with the vacuum system associated with the cylinders in the vicinity of the main pump, for returning liquid to the reservoir chamber, [56] References Cited which is preferably evacuated. This yields effective cleaning of UNITED STATES PATENTS dirt, dust and lint not only from the perforations but also from 0 l5 9/1914 R valve faces, elbows, and other constrictions in the vacuum 1,1 l ,7 eese system 1,305,735 6/1919 Morris. 1,756,410 4/1930 Wertz 134/1 1 1 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 30 a l 1 0' a 122 %/;1 as i Q i32 I 22 l I i ll 2 Ii 24 I a If, [I C 40 V a i f l; i Q a i i l I r I H 20 4 /2 f" VACUUM-SYSTEM CLEANING CIRCULATION DEVICE This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending patent application, Ser. No. 832,718, filed June 12, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a cleaning device capable of being used with vacuum systems of the type that comprise an interior-evacuated hollow perforated roll. More broadly, the invention concerns equipment that may be used to clean a vacuum system that operates through hollow perforated cylinders to manipulate or convey any substantially imperforate web-like material, such as metal foil, plastic film, rubber sheeting, etc.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various kinds of machines are known that manipulate weblike material (paper, plastic film, metal foil, etc.) by the action of perforated hollow rolls that are evacuated in their interiors. Among the machines of this kind are the envelope-folding machines which take envelope blanks of paper stock and, by appropriate operations, convert them at high speed such as 600 pieces per minute into folded envelopes ready for sale. Although the machine of the instant invention is disclosed with respect to its use with an envelope-folding machine operating on the principle disclosed above, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the invention will find use with other machines within the broad class mentioned above, i.e., machines operating to manipulate a web of substantially imperforate material by means of a plurality of perforated, interior-evacuated rolls.

In the use of envelope machines, it has developed that one of the principal difficulties is that dust, lint and the like tend to enter the perforations of the rolls, either blocking them or becoming caught at various places in the vacuum system, such as the seals between the rolls and the line leading to the vacuum source, or at constrictions or elbows in that line so as to decrease the effectiveness of the vacuum applied.

To overcome this difficulty, the concept of providing twopiece rollsthat can be disassembled, permitting ready access to the interior of the rolls, is already known. As a solution to the problem, however, this has the drawback that it increases substantially the cost of building the machine. Moreover, the shutdown period that is required when this solution to the problem is adopted is relatively substantial, since any machine of this general sort comprises several rolls, each of which needs individually to be removed from the machine, disassembled, cleaned, re-assembled and returned to the machine. There is the further difficulty, moreover, that there are portions of the main vacuum system of an envelope-convering machine or the like that contain bends, elbows, etc. where dirt, dust or lint is likely to accumulate, and the above-indicated expedient of providing rolls capable of being disassembled does nothing to overcome the problem of the diminution of the effectiveness of the vacuum source as a result of the accumulation of dust, dirt, and lint at these relatively inaccessible places. When rolls capable of being disassembled are used, the vacuum line is still cleaned by blowing it out and, if necessary, disassembling it.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided a means for cleaning a web-manipulating machine of the perforated, interior-evacuated-roll type. The apparatus of the invention comprises a reservoir for cleaning liquid, pumps separate from that of the vacuum system for ejecting cleaning liquid from the reservoir into a line, a distributor means in the line for causing the cleaning liquid to enter the openings orperforations in a hollow roll of the web-manipulating machine, and a line connected to the main vacuum line of the web-manipulated machine for returning the cleaning liquid to the reservoir. Ideally, the reservoir and its associated equipment are carried on a cart or dolly that enable the above-mentioned assemblage of equipment to be brought conveniently to the vicinity of a web-manipulating machine and there used. Also, for best results, the space above the liquid in the reservoir is connected with a vacuum pump to materially reduce the pressure therein and in the hollow roll. Thus, in less time than it would ordinarily take to remove and disassemble only a few of the rolls of the web-manipulating machine, it is possible with the equipment of the invention to give all of the vacuum system a cleaning treatment that is more effective than that which can be ob tained using only the concept of having members capable of being disassembled. I The reservoir contains a filter that catches the dust, dirt and lint that is contained in the cleaning liquid that is returned thereto, insuring the effectiveness of the operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A complete understanding of the invention may be had from the foregoing and following description thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view, partly schematic and partly broken away to reveal the construction of interior parts, of the equipment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view, also partly broken away, showing a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus in operation and modified somewhat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus of the invention comprises a tank 2 that consists of a body portion 4 and a lid 6 that is joined air-tight to the body portion 4. The body portion 4 of the tank 2 is adapted to contain a liquid, as indicated at 8. Near the bottom of the body portion 4 of the tank 2, there are positioned filters 10, through which the liquid 8 passes, being drawn by the pumps 12. The pumps 12 may conveniently be powered by means of an electric power source 14, operating through a line 16 containing a switch 18. The pumps 12 pump liquid 8 out through lines or hoses 20, 22, which lead to dis tributors 24, 26. Liquid leaves the distributors 24, 26 through a plurality of individual smaller lines or tubes 30 that terminate in suction-cup means 32, seen in greater detail in FIG. 2, that serve for attaching them to individual ones of the perforations or radial passages 34 in a hollow roll 36 of a webmanipulating machine. If desired, the body portion 4 in the tank 2 may be provided exteriorly with one or more brackets 38 for guiding or holding one or more of the hoses 20, 22.

Liquid is returned to the body portion 4 of the tank 2 by means of a line 40 that has at its outer end a collar 42 that is interiorly threaded, as at 44, to permit it to be joined to the main suction line or conduit of a web-manipulating machine, for instance, in the part of that line that is immediately adjacent to the usual vacuum pump, (not shown) by which air is drawn into the roll through perforations 34 to hold a web against the roll. The inner end of the line 40 passes through the upper part of the wall of the tank 4, being threadedly secured there as at 46.

Preferably, but not necessarily, there is provided as part of the apparatus of the invention a cart or carriage 48, upon which the tank 2 is set to permit it to be transported conveniently from one location to another. This is advantageous, since it may be desired to use the apparatus of the invention in cleaning the rolls of different web-manipulating machines in one plant location, or in some instances, it will be convenient to move the tank 2 between cleaning different sets of rolls on one web-manipulating machine of substantial extent. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the tank 2 is provided with legs 50 that elevate it sufficiently to provide adequate clearance for the pumps 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that by providing the cart 48 with a horizontal support member a sufiicientdistance above the floor 52, the same purpose could be served. It is also possible to locate the pumps 12 interiorly of the tank 2, and have the hoses 20, 22 pass through the side of the tank, in which event it will be possible to set the tank 2 directly on the bottom of the cart 48.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it is shown that the distributor 24 comprises a first part 54 and a second part 56, which are joined threadedly as at 58. Although in the drawings, the distributor 24 is shown as having three exit lines or tubes 30, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a web manipulating machine ordinarily has, in one of its rolls, a substantially greater number of perforations, and it will be necessary to design the distributor 24 so as to provide a sufficiently large number of tubes 30 to take care of all the passages 34 that are to be cleaned in one cleaning operation. Typically, a distributor 24 will have about 12 or 20 of the exit tubes 30.

At the exterior end of the tube 30 there is received therein a metal tube 60 that has exterior dimensions such that it may fit conveniently within a passage 34 in the roll 36. FIG. 2 also shows how the suction cup 62 fits around the tube 60 and abuts the line 30.

OPERATION The equipment described above is operated in the following manner. The tank 2 is partly filled with a suitable liquid. This may be water, alone or with the addition of a detergent or cleaning agent. Satisfactory results have been obtained with the use of a water solution of a heavy-duty cleaning agent such as'is used for cleaning walls or floors. It is also possible to use organic cleaning solutions, such as kerosene or acetone.

The main suction line or conduit of the web-manipulating machine is disconnected from the main vacuum pump (not shown), and the line 40 is connected to that conduit by means of the collar 42. The suction-cups 32 at the ends of the tubes 30 are positioned so that tubes 60 are within the radial passages 34 of the rolls 36. Of course, before this is done, the rolls 36 are rotated to an appropriate position, so that their associated valves will permit communication between the interior space 64 of a roll 36 and the main suction line of the webmanipulating machine. With the lid 6 set securely upon the body portion 4 of the tank 2, the switch 18 is closed, activating the pumps 12, which then force the cleaning liquid, suitably filtered by the filters 10, out through the hoses 20, 22 and the distributors 24, 26, and thence through the tubes 30 and into the roll 36. The cleaning fluid thus removes dirt, dust and lint from the perforations 34, from the vicinity of the valves within the web-manipulating machine, and from any turns or constrictions in the vacuum system between the seals and the immediate vicinity of the main vacuum pump. Cleaning liquid then returns to the tank 2 through the lines 40. Satisfactory results have been obtained using pumps 12 of fractional horsepower, with the lines 20, 22 being inch in diameter, and with the lines 30 being about 1/16 inch inside diameter. Flow rates greater than about 20 gallons per minute have been obtained. The cleaning action is promoted by the fact that the tankis sealed by its lid, so that pumping the liquid out of it tends to reduce the air pressure in the tank above the liquid. This draws the liquid back into the tank through line 40 from the hollow roll, whereby the liquid circulates rapidly and even breaks up to some extent as it enters the roll, which helps the cleaning action. The suction cups in engagement with the roll seal the outer ends of its radial passages to prevent are from being drawn into the roll.

The apparatus is shown again, modified and in operation, in FIG. 3, in which like parts bear the same reference numbers as in the preceding figures. The only difference in construction is that more tubes 30 have been shown and a vacuum pump 66 has been mounted on the tank lid, with the inlet of the pump communicating through an opening in the lid with the inside of the tank. This lid, with its vacuum pump, could be substituted for lid 6 in H0. 1. The use of a vacuum pump is an important feature because a much lower subatmospheric pressure, approaching a vacuum, can be maintained in the tank above the liquid and in the hollow rolls than when it is not used. The advantage of evacuating the tank in this manner is that the low pressure causes the liquid that is pumped into the roll passages to be atomized as it leaves tubes 60 and enters the much lower pressure areas within the rolls. This atomizatron causes the llqurd to form a spray that strikes the walls of passages 34 and the inside of the hollow rolls with considerable force, as if it issued from a spray gun. The result is much better cleaning action than is produced by liquid merely flowing in a stream through the rolls, even if it is broken up somewhat due to reduced pressure in the tank caused by the pumping of the liquid out of it.

With the apparatus of the invention, it has proven possible to clean the vacuum system of a machine of the kind that is used to fold envelopes at the rate of about 600 pieces per minute, with not only a very substantial saving in time, compared with the practice of disassembling the rolls and cleaning the remainder of the system by disassembly, but also with a substantial improvement in the quality of the cleaning job done.

While we have shown and described herein certain embodiments of our invention, we intend to cover as well any change or modification therein which may be made without departing from its spirit and scope.

We claim as our invention:

1. Apparatus for cleaning a hollow roll of a web-manipulating machine, the roll being provided with radial inlet passages and with an end outlet, a conduit connected at one end to the roll outlet and adapted to have its opposite end connected to a vacuum system to hold a web against the roll adjacent said passages; comprising a tank for a cleaning liquid, the tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, means connected with said tank inlet and formed for detachable connection with said opposite end of the conduit, a plurality of tubes adapted to be detachably connected with the roll at said passages, a pump connected with the tank for forcing liquid from said tank outlet through said tubes to said roll passages, and means for maintaining reduced air pressure in the tank above the liquid therein and in the roll while the pump is operating, said last mentioned means including a vacuum pump having an inlet communicating with the inside of the tank above the liquid therein for maintaining subatmospheric pressure in the tank and roll to atomize the liquid leaving said tubes, whereby it will spray into the roll before returning through said conduit to the tank.

2. In the combination recited in claim 1, the outer ends of said tubes being insertable in said roll passages, and suction cups mounted on the tubes for operative engagement with the roll around its passages to hold the tubes in the passages.

3. In the combination recited in claim 1, a cart supporting said tank with its bottom spaced above the bottom of the cart, and said pump extending downwardly from the tank bottom.

4. In the combination recited in claim 1, said tank having a cover, and said vacuum pump being mounted on the tank cover.

5. in the combination recited in claim 1, the outer ends of said tubes being insertable in said roll passages, and means mounted on the tubes for sealing them in said passages.

6. In the combination recited in claim 1, said tank having a cover, said vacuum pump being mounted on the tank cover, and suction cups mounted on said tubes for holding their outer ends in said passages and sealing the passages against entrance of air.

# i i i 

1. Apparatus for cleaning a hollow roll of a web-manipulating machine, the roll being provided with radial inlet passages and with an end outlet, a conduit connected at one end to the roll outlet and adapted to have its opposite end connected to a vacuum system to hold a web against the roll adjacent said passages; comprising a tank for a cleaning liquid, the tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, means connected with said tank inlet and formed for detachable connection with said opposite end of the conduit, a plurality of tubes adapted to be detachably connected with the roll at said passages, a pump connected with The tank for forcing liquid from said tank outlet through said tubes to said roll passages, and means for maintaining reduced air pressure in the tank above the liquid therein and in the roll while the pump is operating, said last mentioned means including a vacuum pump having an inlet communicating with the inside of the tank above the liquid therein for maintaining subatmospheric pressure in the tank and roll to atomize the liquid leaving said tubes, whereby it will spray into the roll before returning through said conduit to the tank.
 2. In the combination recited in claim 1, the outer ends of said tubes being insertable in said roll passages, and suction cups mounted on the tubes for operative engagement with the roll around its passages to hold the tubes in the passages.
 3. In the combination recited in claim 1, a cart supporting said tank with its bottom spaced above the bottom of the cart, and said pump extending downwardly from the tank bottom.
 4. In the combination recited in claim 1, said tank having a cover, and said vacuum pump being mounted on the tank cover.
 5. In the combination recited in claim 1, the outer ends of said tubes being insertable in said roll passages, and means mounted on the tubes for sealing them in said passages.
 6. In the combination recited in claim 1, said tank having a cover, said vacuum pump being mounted on the tank cover, and suction cups mounted on said tubes for holding their outer ends in said passages and sealing the passages against entrance of air. 